Picklesburgh is a free Pittsburgh festival that celebrates all things pickles.
"It’s a celebration that goes beyond the dill pickle to include international dishes, prepared foods, and artisan cocktails that feature pickled ingredients; an embrace of the farm-to-table movement and the rising popularity of canning; a selection of handcrafted foods and artisan cocktails from local restaurants; merchandise such as pickled goods, books, and DIY products."
It has been rated as the top specialty food festival, which makes it pretty neat.
The festival was held on the Rachel Carson bridge, which hit capacity every few minutes, and it would have to be shut down to new entrants. It was so, so packed. Like shoulder-to-shoulder packed. Like, we would be at a standstill for minutes at a time as we were just trying to walk along the bridge. It was hard to tell where lines to vendors were because it was just so crammed.
There was a pickle-juice drinking contest, which the winner conquered in like 4.5 seconds. Unreal.
We did manage to get some pickle goodies. First up was The Brinery @ Two Acre Farm.
"The Brinery @TwoAcreFarm makes hand-crafted pickles in small batches. The pickles are 100% natural, contain no artificial preservatives, no chemical crispers, no color additives or refined sugars. The brine for The Brinery’s hand-crafted pickles is a vinegar and salt base and loaded with hand chopped locally grown ingredients and Two Acre Farm’s hand-crafted seasonings. Full of flavor and delightfully crunchy you can find buckets full of different varieties at the local farmer’s markets The Brinery attends."
At Picklesburgh, they had "hand-crafted fresh pickles and pickle shots in crazy exciting flavors, like Peach Maple Bourbon, Pineapple Sriracha, Garlic Herb & Wine and even a Monster Energy Pickle Shot for a quick boost. Plus, relishes, hot sauces, BBQ sauces and dill pickle sea salt."
I picked up a cup of the garlic, herb & wine pickles, while Kayla tried the peach maple bourbon. Mine were good - I wouldn't have hated even more garlic flavor (but I really love garlic). Kayla's had a bit of a kick, but she enjoyed. They even serve them with a straw so you can drink the brine, which they also had on tap.
Next up: fudge.
Copper Coast Confections: "Creative sweets from Pittsburgh’s premiere artisan fudge company including chocolate covered dill pickle popsicles, peanut butter pickle swirl Fudge, and even pickleback fudge with smoked whiskey, caramel and dill pickle peanuts!"
I bought a salted caramel fudge, because that's just my favorite.
But I also went with a "dill payday," which had a dill-flavored fudge with peanuts and caramel.
It wasn't a prominent dill flavor, but just some subtle saltiness and vinegary note. But it worked out.
I would've liked to try the pickle beer, pickle ice cream, dill cheese and so many more. That just might have to wait til next year.
